Jun., 2010 - Mecklenburg County Bar

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2009-10 Summary Bar History Committee By Mark R. Bernstein & Ray S. Farris, Co-Chairs The Bar History Committee was formed to preserve the history of lawyers in the Mecklenburg region and to recognize the important role that they have played in this community. To that end, co-authors Howard Covington and Marion Ellis were commissioned to write the history of the Mecklenburg County Bar and its predecessor lawyers in celebration of the Bar’s Centennial in 2012. Messrs. Covington and Ellis have been researching and writing this history, incorporating the significant periods of history for our region and the country, and the contribution or in some instances the shortcomings of members of the Bar. Beginning in 1767, the history will cover some of our “characters” and the flavor of the practice of law long ago and more recently. The book will include reference to documents, photos and books solicited from our Bar membership, as well as extensive research by the authors. The Committee has focused much of their efforts in 2009-10 to raising sufficient funds for the writing and publishing of the Bar’s history. It has successfully called on many Mecklenburg County law firms and individuals to sponsor the book. Individual attorneys and firms not yet reached will soon be contacted about contribution opportunities before concluding the fundraising campaign before the fall of 2010. If you are interested in learning more about opportunities to contribute to the Bar history book, please contact Leah Reed at 704/375-8624 or Co-Chair Mark R. Bernstein at 704/335-9005 or Co- Chair Ray S. Farris at 704/998-2223. The Committee is also evaluating how best to ensure that Bar photographs, books, papers and other documents are archived in a manner that will preserve this part of the Bar’s history while maximizing accessibility. If you have any of these documents of historical importance to the Mecklenburg County Bar, the Committee would be pleased to receive and safeguard those items in an archive it intends to maintain and share for generations to come. Editorial Policy The Mecklenburg Bar News accepts editorial and advertising material of general legal interest to the practicing Bar of the 26th Judicial District. The implicit purposes of the newsletter, website, and related methods of communication are to educate members of the Mecklenburg County Bar and to create and maintain shared communication with its members. The Communications Committee reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit all material. DISCLAIMER Efforts will be made to provide information of interest that is timely, accurate, and relevant to the legal community. The Mecklenburg County Bar is not responsible for misprints, typographical errors, or misinformation in The Mecklenburg Bar News. The views and opinions are not necessarily those of the 26th Judicial District Bar. Communications Committee: Tricia Derr, Chair, Justin Carpenter, J.P. Davis, Alan Edmonds, Bob Johnston, Charles Keller, Rhea Kelley, John Lassiter, Carrie Mansfield, Chara Moore, Phillip Lewis, Nancy Roberson, Michael Shor, Rob Wick 2009-10 Summary Continuing Legal Education Committee By Heather W. Culp & John W. Reis, Co-Chairs The Continuing Legal Education Committee is on track to meet – and in all likelihood exceed – its challenge to generate a record $500,000 gross/$325,000 net revenue for fiscal year 2009–10. As of late April 2010, CLE gross revenue was $476,070 / net revenue was $334,561. More than two months of CLE programming remain for this fiscal year. The 2009-10 year has been one of our busiest years! • Increase in programming: We offered 96 live programs and 79 video replays - compared to 71 live programs and 77 replays in 2008- 09. • Increase in online programming: From July 2009 through April 2010, 633 hours were viewed online, a dramatic increase from 542 hours during the same time period last fiscal year. • Increase in attendees: As of April 27, 2010, we had 4,233 attendees at MCB CLEs – including live, video replays, and online courses, compared to 3,474 attendees at the same point last year. • Increase in CLE options: We expanded our online CLE options to include live webcasts. Note that of the 12 hours of annual CLE required in North Carolina, 4 may be taken online and the other 8 must be "live.” Webcasts fulfill the "live" CLE requirement. Expect to see more webcasting options in the coming months. Second only to mandatory bar dues, MCB CLE programs are the Bar’s largest funding resource. Equally important, MCB CLEs promote professionalism and collegiality among its members. We thank the many attorneys in our Bar who suggested, planned, spoke at and attended a variety of new and timely programs. The success and expansion of the CLE market is a direct result of the talents of Director of Continuing Legal Education Lisa Armanini, with the invaluable assistance of Sally Kenney and newcomer Sara Poplin. Thank you, Lisa, Sally and Sara for your hard work and dedication. Getting involved in the CLE Committee is a great way to meet fellow lawyers across practice areas. Serving as a program planner or speaker entitles you to free CLE credit. If you have ideas for new programs, would like to join the CLE committee or wish to present and/or plan programs yourself, please contact John Reis at 704/376- 3400 or jreis@cozen.com; Heather Culp at 704/333-0630 or hculp@mitchellculp.com; or Lisa Armanini at 704/375-8624 or larmanini@meckbar.org. 6 June 2010 www.meckbar.org
2009-10 Summary Communications Committee By Tricia Morvan Derr, Chair In 2009-10, the Communications Committee focused their efforts on ensuring that all MCB print and electronic communication pieces are relevant, timely and user-friendly. This was an ambitious undertaking that entailed the re-design of the Mecklenburg Bar News, Bar Blasts and MeckBar.org. Rhea Kelley, Director of Communications (and a relatively new addition to the MCB staff), has been the driving force in leading the Committee to a productive and successful year. With Ms. Kelley’s skill, tenacity and positive attitude, the Committee has achieved all of its goals this year. The Mecklenburg Bar News, the signature publication of our Bar, was converted to a “booklet” format with glossy paper. This was an important step in making the newsletter more cost-effective, environmentally conscious and convenient for the reader. The booklet format also provides a more flexible platform for the varying amount of content published each month. Despite the significant and more attractive change, no additional expenses were added as a result of the new design and printing. The Committee implemented a new e-mail distribution program that allows us to monitor what percentage of recipients open the Bar Blasts and what links recipients most often click on to read more information. These statistics enable the Committee to determine what information is most relevant to our membership and to respond by ensuring that the information distributed to the membership is based on interest. Moving forward, these statistics will provide an important baseline for membership trends in receiving and utilizing electronic information. The MCB Web site, MeckBar.org, underwent a thorough reorganization and re-design. The Committee aimed to make the upgraded site an important resource for MCB members that is intuitive to navigate and that features more photos and profiles of MCB members. The management of MeckBar.org was brought inhouse to allow MCB staff to easily and frequently update and post new content, providing the most up-to-date information available to MCB members and the public. Special thanks to the Communications Committee members who continue to research and write meaningful articles for the Mecklenburg Bar News and provide insightful direction to the Bar’s communication efforts as a whole. The Committee is always looking for MCB members interested in participating on this committee. Please contact Director of Communications Rhea Kelley at rkelley@meckbar.org if you would like to learn more. 2009-10 Summary Corporate Counsel Section By Miranda Zolot, Co-Chair The Corporate Counsel Section provided notable CLE programs focused on bridging the gaps between inside and outside counsel in 2009-10. In December 2009, the Section hosted a panel presentation, “Enhancing the Relationship Between In-House and Outside Counsel (or Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About In-House Counsel but Were Afraid to Ask).” This panel was an opportunity for attendees to peek behind the in-house curtain and find out what corporate clients are expecting from their outside counsel. The participants discussed effective communication, alternative billing, how to provide value and potential conflicts of interest. Thank you to our panelists: Carranza Pryor, TIAA CREF; Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy; Jake Modla, Family Dollar; Fred Hartman, Goodrich Corporation; and Jan Aniel, formerly with Bank of America. In February, the Section participated in the 2010 MCB Annual Review CLE. On behalf of the Section, Peter Buck, Partner, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson P.A., provided a well-received corporate law update titled “Back to Some ‘New Basics.’” In March 2010, the Section hosted “Job Envy: Representing a Sports Franchise or NASCAR Driver,” featuring a question-and-answer session with Andre Walters, Senior Director, Legal Affairs, Bobcats Sports & Entertainment; Fred Whitfield, President and CEO, Bobcats Sports & Entertainment; Richard Thigpen, General Counsel, Carolina Panthers; and Stoke Caldwell, Partner, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson P.A., Counsel to several NASCAR teams. Topics ranged from contract negotiations with players and NASCAR drivers, labor, and workers compensation issues to litigation. The program was held on the Bobcats’ practice court at the Time Warner Cable Arena and Section members were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the arena and attendance at a Bobcats game in one of the Arena’s private suites. The event attracted a large number of Section members and law students from around the region. Not only was it a fun way to bring the Section together, it was a great way for students to network with local attorneys who had jobs the students envied. This event was co-sponsored by Winston & Strawn, LLP and Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson P.A. We thank all our 2009-10 sponsors and presenters for their support of the Section. In the coming year, we will continue to bring in-house lawyers together for relevant CLE, bench-marking and networking opportunities. We also continue to look for ways to strengthen the ties between local corporations and local attorneys. If you are interested in learning more about these Section opportunities or becoming a more active participant in the Section, please email Miranda Zolot at mzolot@familydollar or MCB Section liaison Mary Jordan Mullinax at mjmullinax@meckbar.org. www.meckbar.org June 2010 7
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Jun., 2010 - Mecklenburg County Bar

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